MAYBE

I heard it said that a Fundamentalist is
someone who throws the maybe out with the bath water. I’d like to leave
the maybe in my adventure of faith because discipleship involves discovery,
which in turn requires a willingness to explore and be explored, in other words
to allow the maybe’s to linger.

I think Jesus likes us to have room for
maybes…

Turning round Jesus saw them following and
asked “What do you want?”

John 1.38

Andrew and John had been disciples of John
the Baptist, but now he pointed away from himself to one greater.

Tentatively they followed.

Only to be confronted with a question, “What
do you want?” It’s a good question for any would be disciple and worth
reflecting on in depth, what is it we want from following Jesus.

Our two didn’t have that luxury, “where are
you staying?” came the hasty, foot-shuffling reply yet this elicited a profound
truth from Jesus, “come & you will see”.

Profound because it is only by following
Jesus that you discover his residence is, ultimately, heaven and that you have
a place there. It’s a discovery that can only be made by going on the journey.

For these two disciples their journey
started when another pointed to Jesus and said “Look the Lamb of God.” They
gathered all their hopes, dreams and maybes and set off after him, maybe you
could do that too.

The narrative continues “they spent that day
with Jesus” and what a difference a day made. Spending time with Jesus set
Andrew’s heart on fire he knew what he wanted to do above all things. He went
and told his brother about Jesus but that wasn’t nearly enough; of greater
importance the fact that he brought his brother to Jesus.

“You’ve got to come and then you will see”
– Andrew gets it and soon his brother Peter will too.

Could we follow Jesus? What about all our
maybes, suffering, science, sin, salvation… bring them with you, come as you
are and you will see; that’s the journey I’m on.

John writes his gospel to evoke faith, your
faith, my faith he wants us to come and see Jesus for ourselves. He’s so edited
this writing that only the richest words are here, all that is necessary for
belief contained in its pages.

That’s why just before he gives us Jesus’
first words John tells us “Jesus saw them following and asked “what do you
want?” John’s telling us Jesus knows whose following after him, maybe at a
hesitant distance, and draws such followers forwards with a question and a
promise.

He knows your heart and mine and the
struggles we have with the maybes of this life and invites us to bring them to
him, to come and see. I pray that you will take the opportunity to do so – it
is a foundational, not to say fundamental, part of the Christian life.